- IBM experienced its best year for mainframe sales in over two decades in 2025, driven by the new z17 series and Telum II processor.
- In summer 2026, IBM is expanding the z17 and LinuxONE 5 lineups with single-frame and rack mount systems for customers needing less performance than multi-rack setups.
- The LinuxONE Express, a standalone rack mount box, will serve as an entry point for new customers, featuring a fixed starting price of $165,000.
- The z17 platform, based on the Telum II processor, includes an AI accelerator block and the Spyre accelerator for enhanced AI performance.
- New smaller systems include the z17 ME2 (single-frame) and z17 MER (rack mount), offering up to 82 cores and 18TB of memory, with generational improvements in throughput and capacity.
- IBM aims to leverage on-premise AI computing and security features to appeal to regulated industries, maintaining backward compatibility and high reliability.
- The LinuxONE Express is designed to simplify onboarding into the LinuxONE ecosystem with a pre-priced, turnkey solution, potentially driving further revenue growth.
- All new mainframe systems are set to go on sale with general availability starting August 12th.